Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Anthony Solometo Shoves Again, Shalin Polanco Stays Hot, More

Anthony Solometo keeps dominating at Double-A, Ryan Harbin keeps flying under the radar at Low-A, and more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates had to deal with rain just as their parent club did on Saturday. Despite a rain delay, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians rallied with a big 9th inning to defeat the Louisville Bats.

Going to the top of the 9th inning the game was tied at 8. Ryan Vilade walked to start the inning and scored on a 2-run home run by Cal Mitchell, his 8th of the season. Alika Williams singled and scored on a Chris Owings double. Vinny Capra doubled, Miguel Andújar and Canaan Smith-Njigba singled, then Vilade doubled. When the dust settled, Indy led 14-8.

Quinn Priester started for Indy and pitched poorly. In 5 innings pitched, Priester allowed 4 runs on five hits, three walks, a home run, and five strikeouts. Priester threw 49 of 85 pitches for strikes while recording seven ground ball outs.

Continuing his rehab assignment, Rob Zastryzny followed Priester. Zastryzny recorded just two outs while allowing 3 runs on two hits and he hit a batter. When Zastryzny is healthy, he should be designated for assignment instead of returning to the majors. John O'Reilly pitched 1.1 innings, allowing a solo home run, walking a batter, and striking a batter out.

After the 7th inning the game went into a rain delay. After the delay, Daniel Zamora and Hunter Stratton combined to pitch a scoreless 8th inning. This sent the game to the 9th inning tied at 8 runs each. Stratton would also pitch a scoreless 9th inning for Indy.

Endy Rodriguez finished the game 1-for-5 with a walk and a run scored. Continuing his rehab assignment, Ji Man Choi was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Andújar was 2-for-6 with a run scored and two RBI. Williams went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.

Smith-Njigba was 2-for-5 with a double, walk, two runs scored, and three RBI. Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with a home run, double, a run scored, and four RBI.

Greensboro gets walked off

Thomas Harrington started for Greensboro. Harrington allowed 3 runs on five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He threw 56 of 84 pitches for strikes. After Harrington's day ended, the Greensboro bullpen went to to work.

Michell Miliano was first out of the bullpen, striking out two in 2 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. Lefty Cy Nielson allowed two hits and struck a batter out in 2 scoreless innings of his own. After this, the Grasshopper bullpen would run into trouble.

Yunior Thibo took over in the bottom of the 10th inning with Greensboro leading 4-3. After allowing a game-tying hit, Thibo issued a walk and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. Jake Stevenson then took over for Thibo. On the first pitch he threw Stevenson allowed a walk off sacrifice fly to end the game.

Tres Gonzales bat lead off for the Grasshoppers going 1-for-4 with a walk. Mike Jarvis was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Brenden Dixon hit his 6th home run of the season as part of a 2-for-3 performance with a walk. Sammy Siani was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Jase Bowen was 1-for-5.

6-3 victory for Low-A Bradenton

Low-A Bradenton defeated the Clearwater Threshers 6-3. With the win, the Marauders are now 39-33 on the season. Bradenton scored at least one run in four straight innings and did not allow a run until the 9th inning on their way to their victory.

Derek Diamond started for Bradenton and pitched 6 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out four batters. Diamond now owns a 3.94 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched at the Low-A level this season.

All season long Ryan Harbin has pitched well and flown under the radar. That continued on Saturday as he pitched 2 perfect innings of relief, stirking out five of the six batters he faced. Harbin now owns a 0.85 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched. Harbin needs to be promoted to High-A soon.

Julian Bosnic started the 9th inning but struggled. He recorded two outs while allowing 3 runs on three hits, two walks, and no strikeouts. Elijah Birdsong was then summonded. Birdsong got the final out of the game to pick up his 3rd save of the season.

Jesus Castillo went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Shalin Polanco was 2-for-3 with a walk, his 14th double of the season, two RBI, and a run scored. Termarr Johnson was 0-for-4 with a RBI, Alexander Mojica was 1-for-4, and Geovanny Planchart went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

FCL Pirates suffer lopsided loss

Saturday afternoon was a poor one for the pitching staff and defense of the FCL Pirates. They allowed 11 runs, but on just nine hits, while committing three errors in an 11-6 loss against the FCL Orioles. With the loss, the Pirates are now 14-6 on the season.

Cristopher Cruz started in the FCL and struggled. The righty pitched just 1.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on three hits, a walk, a home run, three strikeouts, and he hit a batter. Gilberto Alcala followed, allowing a solo home run while walking and striking out two in 3.2 innings pitched.

Andres Silvera struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 6th inning. Eliecer Romero struggled and was let down by his defense, allowing 6 runs, 3 earned, on three hits, a walk, and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning pitched. Keneth Quintanilla finished things off allowing a run on two hits and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.

Shortstop Javier Rivas went 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored. Lonnie White Jr. was 1-for-2 to raise his batting average to .317 and OPS to .856. First baseman Esmerlyn Valdez was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Center fielder Braylon Bishop was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, and Axiel Plaz served as the DH going 1-for-4 with a run scored.